…melodies, though they are material, are connected with the
spiritual, therefore, they produce a great effect. A certain kind of melody
makes the spirit happy, another kind makes it sad, another excites it to
action.
All these feelings can be caused by voice and music, for
through the nerves it moves and stirs the spirit. Even over animals, music has
an effect. For example: When they wish to take a camel over a desert road, they
attach to him some bells, or they play upon a flute, and this sound prevents
him from realizing the fatigue of the journey; his nerves are affected, but he
does not have an increase of thought, he feels nothing but physical sensation.
- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Words
of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, recorded by Mary Lucas during her pilgrimage in 1905; ‘A Brief
Account of My Visit to Acca’, by Mary Lucas)
